Multiple unit switch



1933- J. J. NEUMAN 1,939,185

MULTIPLE UNIT SWITCH Original Filed July 26. 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 3INVENTOR- JiwoJ/Vzzmam XAM ATTORNEY- Dec. '12., 1933. J. .1. NEUMAN15,39,185

MULTIPLE UNIT SWITCH Original Filed July 26. 1930 s Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec.12, 1933. J, .1. NEUMAN 1,939,185,

MULTIPLE UNIT SWITCH Original Filed July 26. 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 3INVENTOR 1 4 ATTO Patented Dec. 12, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEOriginal application July 26, 1930, Serial No. 470,995. Divided and thisapplication June 10, 1932. Serial No. 616,390

8 Claims.

This invention relates to a multiple unit switch, and has for itsgeneral object and purpose to provide a switch of this type in which theseveral parts of the various units are compactly arranged so that theymay be contained within a single housing of comparatively smalldimensions, the said parts being constructed, automatically controlledand operated in a positive and reliable manner so that the respectiveunits of the switch will independently function in precisely timedrelation to each other, thus enabling my improved switch to be employedsuccessfully in connection with the carrying out of industrialoperations or processes which must be very accurately controlled inorder to produce a satisfactory commercial product.

One of the important objects of the invention is to provide a motordriven multiple unit type switch, in which electromechanical means isemployed for operatively connecting the switch means of each unit withthe driving motor.

The subject matter of this application is a division of my pendingapplication for patent on automatic sequence control means, Serial No.470,995, filed July 26, 1930.

To the above end, it is an important object of my invention to providean electrical control switch of the multiple unit type, the said unitsbeing relatively and independently adjustable and automaticallyoperating to control the duration of the processing cycle, as well asthe duration of the several phases or steps thereof in predeterminedtimed relation.

In the drawings, wherein I have disclosed one practical and eflicientlyoperating embodiment of the invention, and in which similar referencecharacters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views,

Figure 1 is a front elevation of one form of the multiple unit switch;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged top plan view thereof with the cover of the switchcasing removed, and certain parts shown in section,

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 3--3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view of one application of the presentinvention to an automatic control system for sugar refiningcentrifugals.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the various switch partsare operatively mounted and arranged within a single housing or casinggenerally indicated at 39. Adjacent to the front end of this casing, atransversely positioned shaft 40 is fixed in the opposite side wallsthereof and upon this shaft a plurality of large gears 41*, 41

and 41 (in the present instance three) are loosely mounted forindependent rotation. There is also associated with each of these gearsat one side thereof, and likewise loosely mounted on the shaft 40, adial 42 42 and 42, respectively. The gears are spaced from each otherand from the associated dials by suitable spacing sleeves 43 on the rod40. To one side of each gear, a detent lug 44 is suitably fixed and isadapted for engagement with a stop 45 projecting from the opposed sideof the associated dial, thus limiting the rotation of the individualgears to their normal positions under the action of the springs shown at46.

"In spaced relation to the rod 40, a second trans- 7O verse rod 47 issupported in theopposite sides of the switch case and upon this rod thespaced levers 48 48 and 48 are loosely mounted for pivotal rockingmovement. Each of these levers has an angular downwardly projecting arm49 at its pivoted end which is disposed in the path of movement of thedetent lug 44 carried by one of the gears 41 41 or 41.

The dials 42 42 and 42 are adapted to be independently adjusted relativeto the gears with which they are respectively associated to position therespective stops 45 relative to the lever arms 49, and as herein shown,such adjustment may be most conveniently effected by providing each dialwith a worm gear 50 engaged by a worm 51 on the inner end of a manuallyadjustable shaft 52 suitably mounted in the front wall of the switchcase 39. Each dial has a peripheral flange suitably graduated andprovided with the spaced digits or numerals suitably marked thereon asshown at 53, and which are visible through the respective sight openings54*, 54 and 54 provided in the front wall of the case 39. In the use ofthe switch in connection with sugar refining centrifugals, the numeralson the dial 42 indicate the time period or duration of the processcycle, while the dial 42 indicates the number of minutes elapsing afterthe start of the cycle when the wash period begins, while the dial 42indicates the quantity or volume of the wash water supplied in eachoperating cycle, in gallons. The appropriate indicativecharacterizations may be suitably associated with the respective sightopenings of the switch case in any preferred manner.

In the rear end of the case 39 a transverse bar 55 is secured in whichthe vertical rods 56 are mounted, said rods extending loosely throughopenings in the rear ends of the levers 48 48 and 48 respectively, andsupporting the springs 57 yieldingly urging the rear ends of said leversllO upwardly to the normal position shown in Fig. 3

of the drawings. Each of these levers is provided with suitable mercuryswitch tube supporting clips, a single such switch 58 being mounted onthe lever 48, while two mercury switches 59 and 60 respectively, aremounted on the lever 48, and a single such switch 61 is mounted on thelever 48. To each of the levers 48 and 48 respectively, thecore of asolenoid magnet 62, 63 respectively, is connected by a link such as thatshown at .64 in Fig. 3 of the drawings. These magnets are not ofsufficient strength to pull the levers 48 and 48 downwardly whenenergized, but are merely holding magnets, which after the lever hasbeen actuated, will hold the same in its actuated position until themagnet has been deenergized.

Rearwardly of the rod 47 and below the same, a shaft 65 is journalled insuitable bearings provided on the walls of the switch case, and isdriven by means of an external electric motor shown at 66. Upon thisshaft there is fixed the spaced gears 67 and adjacent each of said gearsa lever 68, 68 and 68 respectively, is loosely mounted on the shaft 65.Each of these levers has an angular end portion 69 extending downwardlybelow the shaft 65 and upon the same gearing is mounted for transmittingrotation from one of the gears on the shaft 65 to one of the gears 41*,41 and 41, as the case may be. For the purpose of driving the gears 41and 41', I have shown on each of the levers 68 and 68,large gears70'meshing with the two relatively small gears 67 on the shaft 65, andsmaller gears 71 on the same axes with the gears 70 which are movableinto and out of engagement with the gears 41- and 41 The other lever 68carries a single rotation transmitting gear 72 of small diameter inconstant mesh with the large diameter gear 6'1 on shaft 65. The

gear elements of the several switch units are of such ratios as totransmit rotation to the several gears 41, 41 and 41 from the commondrive shaft 65 at the proper predetermined relative speeds. The severallevers 68, 68 and 68 are yieldingly held in their normal positionswherein the gears 41*, 41 and 41 are disentrained from the drive shaft65, by means of the springs 73, 74 and '75 respectively.

Additional solenoid magnets 76, 77 and 78 are arranged in the switchcase 39 and have their cores respectively connected tov the rear ends oflevers 68, 68 and 68 so that when any one of these magnets isenergizedythe corresponding lever is rocked on shaft 65 to entrain saiddrive shaft with one of the gears 41*, 41 and 41, as the case may be.

In the operation of the invention as above described, the several dials42, 42 and 42 are first adjusted by the operation of the shafts 52 toposition their stops 45 in proper relation to the ends of the levers 48,48 and 48, as will be indicated by the dial readings. Thus', beforestarting operations, it will be understood that the springs 46 hold theseveral detents 44 carried by the gears in contact with these stops. Asexplained in my copending application above referred to, when current issupplied to the operating motor for shaft 65, the several solenoidmagnets are also energized, the energization of certain of these magnetsbeing controlled by the mercury switches. .The energization of magnets'76, 77 will entrain the gears 41 and 41 with the motor driven shaft 65by pulling the rear ends of the lever 68 and 68 downwardly. The magnets62, 63, however, being relatively weak, are incapable of disturbing thenormal positions of the levers 48 and 48. As the gear 41 is thusrotated, during the first portion of the operating cycle of thecentrifugal or other apparatus, at the end of the predetermined lengthof time, the detent 44 on said gear comes into contact with the end oflever 48 and moves said lever so as to cause the mercury switches 59 and60 thereon to make or break the circuits. controlled thereby as the casemay be. In the application of the switch, as disclosed in my pendingapplication, and as illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawings, at this timethe switch 59 breaks the circuit of electromagnet 77, so that gear 41 isdisentrained from the shaft of motor 66 at the same time the othermercury switch 60 operates to' close the circuit of the solenoid magnet78 through the normally closed mercury switch on the lever 48,thusentraining the gear 41 of the other switch unit with the shaft 65. Theopening and closing of the mercury switches may also electricallycontrol various other operations, which it is not necessary to elaborateupon in the present specification. Also, it is evident that insofar asthe novel features of the present invention is concerned, it may beemployed in various other industrial operations which might necessitatea different order of energization of the several control solenoidmagnets for the switch units.

When the detent 44 on the gear 41 strikes the end of the lever 48,magnet 78 is deenergized so that the said gear is disentrained from themotor driven shaft 65. The holding magnet 62, 63 will continue to retainlevers 48 and 48 in their operated positions until the detent on gear 41comes into contact with levers 48 to close a circuit through the mercuryswitch 58, which circuit in turn controls suitable switch means whichwill operate to open the circuit for the motor of the centrifugalmachine or other apparatus. The holding magnets 62, 63 are of coursethereby also deenergized so that the levers 48 and 48 as well as thelever 48 return to their tive and reliable in operation to insure thein-" augurat'ion and discontinuance of the several steps of the processcycle with a high degree of accuracy and at the proper times inaccordance with the predetermined requirements of the particularprocess. The parts of this switch are also of comparatively simple formand compact in their arrangement, so that the entire switch apparatusmay be contained in an outer housing of small dimensions which willoccupy comparatively little space.

While I have herein shown and described one simple and satisfactoryembodiment of the invention, it will be mderstood that with respect tothe particular construction and arrangement of the variousparts thereof,the essential features of my present improvement are susceptible of ingto eflect entrainment of the respective switch operating units with themotor, and a switch actuated to closed position by one of said units forenergizing a circuit for the electrically controlled means of another ofsaid units.

2. In a multiple unit control switch, a plurality of pivotally mountedswitch operating levers, a revoluble detent associated with each of saidlevers for actuating the same, an adjustable stop for variablydetermining the extent of movement of each detent, spring means tendingto move the detent in one direction and hold the same in engagement withthe stop, a common operating motor for said revoluble detents, andelectrically controlled entraining gearing associated with each switchunit for operatively connecting the revoluble detent with the motor toeilect the actuation of said switch operating levers at relativelydiflerent times.

3. In an electric switch, a pivoted lever, a mercury switch carried bysaid lever, a revoluble spring held detent to engage and actuate saidlever, an adjustable stop variably limiting movement or the detent inone direction under the action of the spring, and electricallycontrolled means Ior establishing an operative connection between saidrevoluble detent and a source of power.

4. In an electric switch, a pivoted lever, a mercury switch carried bysaid lever, a revoluble spring held detent to engage and actuate saidlever, an adjustable stop limiting movement of the detent in onedirection under the action or the spring, electrically controlled meansfor establishing an operative connection between said revoluble detentand a source of power, and additional electrically controlled means forholding said switch carrying lever in itsoperated position.

5.Inanelectricswitch,aswitchoperating lever, actuating means thereforincluding a movable member to directly engage and actuate said lever,electrically controlled means for establishing an operative connectionbetween said actuating means and a source of power, and additional meansfor holding said lever in its actuated position independently r saidactuating means. i

6. In an electric switch, a switch operating lever, actuating meanstherefor including a movable member to directly engage and actuate saidlever, means for establishing an operative connection with saidactuating means and a source of power, and additional electricallycontrolled means for holding said switch operating lever in its actuatedposition independently of said actuating means.

7. In a multiple unit switch, a plurality of individual switch operatingunits and a common operating motor therefor, electricallycontrolledmeans associatedwitheachotsaidunits for independentlyeiiecting an operative connection between said units and the motor, anda switch actuated to closed position by one of said units for energizinga circuit for the electrically controlled means of another of saidunits.

8. In a multiple unit switch, a plurality of individual switch operatingunits and a common operating motor therefor, electrically controlledmeans associated with each of said units for independently eiiecting anoperative connectionbetween said units and the motor, and separateswitches independently operable by the individual units and Jointlycontrolling a circuit for the electrically controlled means 01 one atsaid units.

JACOB J. NEUHAN.

